Final Cut Pro dropping animation onto timeline resolution issues

Final Cut Pro dropping animation onto timeline resolution issues

on Aug 29, 2012 at 5:38:17 am

Hi,

I have a problem when dropping animation files on a timeline.
I'm using FCP 6

I have a bunch of hi res HD footage I'm pulling from the same source. All were exported the same way and look high quality when played separately.

I import them into fc.
drop one onto the timeline
click 'okay' when it asks me about the sequence settings.
the clip looks great. right size. hi res
i import another clip
it is so low res!
i go to 'reveal in finder' to check the original.
it looks fine.
Even when I render one clip is hires and the other is low.

How can I get all the animation to be the same hires quality?

thank you for any help.
Dana

Re: Final Cut Pro dropping animation onto timeline resolution issues

by Rafael Amador

on Aug 29, 2012 at 5:49:12 am

Have you checked on the Browser that all the files have the same size, same pixels, same field order, same codec, same time base?
Do the animations have Alpha channel? If so, have they been exported with the same kind of Alpha?
Are you watching the files with the canvas set at 100%?

make a test and see if there is any clip that needs to be renderd. Select all in your time-line and "Alt-R".
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

Re: Final Cut Pro dropping animation onto timeline resolution issues

on Aug 29, 2012 at 5:57:44 am

Thanks Rafael I'll see what I can find.

Re: Final Cut Pro dropping animation onto timeline resolution issues

on Aug 29, 2012 at 6:22:16 am

Hi Rafael,

The codecs are all different, but the sizes are the same. 1920x1080

The codec that woks is Animation, Timecode.
the one's that don't are:
- component Y'CbCr 8-bit 4:2:2 ordered cb Y'0 CrY'1, Linear PCM, Timecode
- Linear PCM, Timecode, Component Y'CbCr 8-bit 4:2:2 ordered Cb Y'0 Cr Y'1
- Animation, Linear PCM, Timecode

I'm creating a montage so have about 50 pieces that seem to be all different and I need them to look the same.

what do I do next?

Dana

Re: Final Cut Pro dropping animation onto timeline resolution issues

by Rafael Amador

on Aug 29, 2012 at 9:19:08 am

Hi Dana,
If you are dragging first an Animation clip to your sequence and you conform the sequence to that clip, the 8b Uncompressed clips won't match the sequence setting. They need to be rendered. This is why they don't look "full quality" in the canvas. When rendered will look OK.
I don't recommend you to set your sequence with the Animation codec. You better set your sequence codec 8b Uncompressed or even better Prores. You will have some problems editing the Animation stuff because you will have no much RT performance.
I also recommend you, before exporting your sequence, set "Render all YUV in High Precision".
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

Re: Final Cut Pro dropping animation onto timeline resolution issues

on Aug 30, 2012 at 6:15:34 am

Hey Rafael,

Thanks so much for your help. I've got it working.

I think the problem was that Final cut doesn't recognise 'True HD' files. It seemed to be flipping out with the sizes.

Even when I was rendering and exporting as you suggested above, it was still giving me low quality on separate spots.

The sequence setting I ended up with that worked was:

Frame Size: 1440 x 1080 - Aspect Ration HD (1440x180) (16:9)
Pixel Aspect Ratio: HD (1440x1080)
Field Dominance: Upper (odd)
Editing timebase: 25
QuickTime Video Settings
Compressor: Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)
Quality 100%

Exporting in Apple Prores also worked in giving me High Quality in every section.

The final FCP timeline, when combined this file with other montages from another body of work, had to be 'Send to' compressor and used Animation Pixlet Pal to export out. It went low quality again if I exported 'using quicktime conversion' as I did previously.

I hope that makes sense.

DVD studio Pro seemed to handle that okay once I dropped the bit-rate to 8, instead of 9.

Re: Final Cut Pro dropping animation onto timeline resolution issues

by Rafael Amador

on Aug 30, 2012 at 8:58:04 am

[Dana Newell] "I think the problem was that Final cut doesn't recognise 'True HD' files. It seemed to be flipping out with the sizes."
FC has no problem to manage any size.
1440x1080 HD pixels is mostly an acquistion size (HDV, DVCPRoHD) and unless you need to deliver with those specs you shouldn't finish in that size.
Standar HD has only two sizes 1920x1080 and 1280x720. Always Squared pixels.
Probably FC was setting the sequence size 1920x1080 which is TRUE HD.

I don't know where you wan't to end up but if you are working for a web video, you shouldn't use that size/pixels, neither work in an Interlaced sequence.

[Dana Newell] "used Animation Pixlet Pal to export out."
That's codec that nobody knows what is for.
I've never heard of nobody using it for nothing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixlet
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com